UNDER 15 YEARS? THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO BECOME PART

 OF THE MOST EXCITING PROGRAMME IN SCOTTISH GOLF


NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
The SGU and SLGA’s search for the country’s best young golfing talent is on with nominations now being sought for the 2010-2011 Academy programme in a bid to unearth the next Catriona Matthew and Paul Lawrie.
Nominations are open to golfers under the age of 15 on 1 January 2011 with a handicap of ten or under for boys and a handicap of 20 or under for girls. Individuals who meet the criteria are invited to put themselves forward, while clubs are being given the opportunity to nominate their best young players who also meet the required standards.
Launched in 2005, the Scottish Golf Academy programme is in its fifth year and since taking in the country’s best young girls last year is now a fully integrated performance development programme supported by the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, with input from sportscotland and the PGA. The Academy has produced various National Champions such as David Law, Scottish Boys and Men’s Champion, and Ewan Scott, English U14’s Champion amongst others.
The Academy now supports 120 young golfers across the country, with facilities in eight different regions throughout Scotland, from the Highlands to Dumfries & Galloway. The programme uses some of the country’s leading PGA coaches, including Adam Hunter, coach to former Open Champion Paul Lawrie, and Colin Brooks, who has taught a number of players on the European Tour.
Steve Paulding, Performance Manager for Scottish Golf, is urging ambitious young golfers to put themselves forward for talent identification:
“The Scottish Golf Academy Programme has been a great success over the last five years with a number of national champions coming through the programme. We are looking for players with the potential to compete at the highest level of the game, from success at international level in the amateur game through to winning on the main professional tours worldwide.”
“The recent successes of players such as Krystle Caithness and Richie Ramsay on the leading professional Tours can provide inspiration to young Scots coming through the Academy, showing just what can be achieved,” added Paulding, who previously worked with the highly successful Great Britain Olympic cycling team.
The Academy involves regular group and individual coaching on all aspects of the game including warm up, video analysis, short game, mental practice, on course sessions and a number of other skills to help your development. There is a Winter Series of competitions for Under 16 players with an order of merit and the chance to represent Scotland at different events. Other support includes, personalised club fitting, workshops on psychology, fitness, lifestyle advice and access to Golf Data Lab statistics programme as used by the leading players in Scotland.
All a player needs to do is complete the downloadable form on the SGU’s and SLGA’s website, which can be found at www.scottishgolf.org and www.slga.co.uk and send it back using the appropriate details on the form, together with a current photograph. Individuals will then be contacted by the Scottish Golf Performance Manager once selections have been made for the next stage of the process.

*Those players currently in an Area or County coaching squad should check that they have not already been nominated, by contacting Lucy Llewellyn on l.llewellyn@scottishgolf.org or 01334 466477.